Mail-crane.



No. 866,899; PA'I'BNTBD SEPT. 24, 1907. T. J. WOLFE & P. L. WOOD. MAIL CRANE APPLICATION FILED PER. 18. 190'!- a snnnrs snnn'r 1.

UNITED srn'rns PATENT onnron- THOMAS J. WOLFE AND FRANK L. WOOD, OF FAIRBURY, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE- TENTH TO JAMES A. JACKSON AND THREE-TENTHSTO WILLIAM H. WOOD, BOTH OF FAIRBURY, NEBRASKA.

MAIL-CRANE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed February 13, 1907. Serial No. 357,118.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS J. WOLFE and FRANK L. WOOD, citizens of the United States, residing at Fairbury, in the county of Jefferson and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Cranes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for delivering mail to fast moving trains, the purpose being to devise mechanism which will admit of the desired result being effected with a minimum amount of danger both to pas-- sengers and to the agent or clerk upon the postal car.

The invention consists of a ring provided with means for attachment thereof to the mail pouch to be delivered, and novel holding means applied to a post and adapted to engage with and hold the said ring and pouch in proper position to be taken up by the catcher applied to the train or other fast moving vehicle or carrier.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail crane and catcher embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the crane above the arm provided with the spring clamp. Fig. 3 is a front view of the mail crane showing a portion of the car and the catcher. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the spring clamp on a larger scale.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The car 1 is provided with the usual catcher 2, the receiving arm 3 of which has an extension 4 parallel with the car or the rod 5 upon which the catcher is mounted to turn, said extension insuring engagement of the ring and retention ofthe mail after the same has been detached from the crane.

The crane at one side of the track and at the station or place from which mail is to be delivered to a fast moving train, comprises a post 6 having a hook 7 at its upper end and a base 8 at its lower end by means of which it is secured to extensions of the ties, or to a suitable platform. The post 6 is preferably'tubular and is provided near its upper end with a support 9 and an arm 10 both projecting from the post in the same direction and adapted to sustain the mail in proper position for delivery. The support 9 receives the mail pouch 11 and may be of any construction.

The arm 10 is provided at its outer end with a spring hold er comprising companion members 12 and 13. The

member 12 is fast to the arm 10 whereas the member 13 is movable towards and from the member 12 to automatically grip a ring 14. The companion members 12 and 13 consist of bars. Pins 15 project laterally from the member 12 and pass loosely through openings in the member 13 and receive springs 16 and nuts 17, the latter constituting stops for the outer ends of the springs 16 and admitting of the tension-of said springs being regulated to grip the ring 14 with greater or less force. The pins 15 constitute supports and guides for the member 13 and receive the tension springs 16 and the stay nuts 17.

The ring 14 is comparatively large and is provided with a series of snap hooks 18, two of which are adaptedto engage with the end rings 19 of the mail bag 11. The ring 14 which is of metal is gripped between the members 12 and 13 of the clamp and is supported in proper position to be engaged by the catcher 2 of the mail car. The pins 15 form stops and properly position the ring 14. The mail bag 11 occupies an approximatelyhorizontal position and rests upon the support 9. The major portion of the weight of the mail bagis sustained by the support 9; hence when the ring 14 is engaged by the catcher very little force is required to disengage the ring from the clamp, the latter yielding in either direction to permit the ring to free itself without causing injury to the clamp or any part of the crane. As the ring 14 leaves the clamp, the mail bag slides from the support 9. To assist materially in holding the mail bag upon the support 9, a pressure plate 20 is provided, said plate having a stem 21 which slides through a guide or keeper 22 fitted to the arm 10, a spring 23 exerting a downward pressure upon the plate 20 to cause it to bear upon the mail bag 11 and retain the same upon the support 9. In placing the mail bag upon the support, the stem 21 is drawn upward, this operation being facilitated by a button at the up p er end of the stem and after the bag has been placed upon the support 9, the stem 21 is permitted to descend under the action of the Spring 23 thereby causing the plate 20 to press upon the post, a'spring clamp at the outer end of said arm, and the mail bag 11 and retain the same inplace a spring actuate pressure plate mounted upon said arm and cooperating with the aforesaid support. Havl ng thus descnbed the mventlon What IS damned In testimony whereof we aflix our signature in presence 918 new 182 of two witnesses. 5 1. In a mail crane, the combination of a post provided with a support, an arm projected from the post and a spring actuate pressure plate cooperating with said support to retain the mail in proper position for delivery. I Witnesses:

2. In a mail crane, the combination of a post, a support 1 JOHN HEATTY, 10 projected from'the post, an arm extended laterally from W. H. BARNES.

THOMAS J. WOLFE. "[L. 8.] FRANK L. WOOD. IL. 8.] 

